Meet the Professor: Dr. Kevin Hall

Dr. Kevin Hall, professor and department head of the Civil Engineering Department, has taught at the University of Arkansas since 1993. Hall earned his B.S. and M.S. of civil engineering from the University of Arkansas, and a Ph.D. of civil engineering from the University of Illinois.

Intro to Engineering
Hall was one of the many children inspired by the space program, and for a long time, he wanted to be an aerospace engineer, making it his goal to fly the shuttle.

Civil engineering won him over when, as a child, he read a non-fiction book based on two civil engineers and spurred the fascination while playing on construction sites in Memphis. Hall spent his junior high and high school years in Jonesboro, Ark., and his search for a college led him to the University of Arkansas because it was relatively near home and he was interested in their Civil Engineering Program.

Influential Engineers
Hall found that Marshall Thompson, a professor at University of Illinois, and Dr. Bob Elliott, a former University of Arkansas professor and civil engineering department head, to be helpful guiding forces in his career. After completing a B.S., Hall went to work in industry for a time, but it was Elliott who recruited him for graduate school at the University of Arkansas.

“Some say that my biases on certain (civil engineering) matters have definitely been influenced by them,” he said.

University of Arkansas experience
Hall returned to the University of Arkansas, after completing his Ph.D., because it’s home to him. He loves that the faculty members make students a priority, always interacting with them. “We’re a large enough university to provide students with the best experience and small enough for professors to know each student personally.”

“I can’t imagine not being here,” he said. “I wouldn’t want to do what I’m doing anywhere else.”

Research
Hall does applied research on civil engineering materials, such as pavement and asphalt. “I take solutions (that other people develop) and make them work,” he said. The need for this kind of research stems from the need for a geographical, regional application. For example, thickness and material of pavement has been the same since the 1960s. “Now that there is a new process at the national level, and we’re trying to figure out how to apply it to Arkansas,” he said.

In the past, Hall developed similar applications when asphalt changed in the 90s. The process of making asphalt hadn’t changed in 60 years, so he refined, adapted the process to materials used in Arkansas.

Students
“I want my students to understand professionalism, and I encourage them to get their Professional Engineer license and conduct themselves as professionals,” Hall said. He prides himself in being very real in his teaching approach.

Hall advises ASCE and Chi Epsilon, officially, and tries to make it to as many of the engineering RSO meetings as possible.

Off the Clock
Hall stays busy during his non-office hours. He reads a lot, and even built his house around his personal library. He particularly likes Sci-Fi and thriller books, on medical, terror and legal issues. Clancy, Harry Potter and the Hunger Games are among his most enjoyed books. He enjoys the outdoors, doing yardwork and golfing, and loves to travel.